Senate Orders NCC To Stop Planned Data Tariff Hike

The Senate on Wednesday morning urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to halt the planned increase in data tariff by mobile telecommunications operators in the country.

It would be recalled that the NCC had directed mobile operators to initiate a new data tariff regime from December 1, 2016 in what is effectively a price increase.

This was contained in a letter to mobile operators dated November 1, the regulator stated that the interim floor price for data services was 0.90k/MB for big operators, and that “this rate will subsist pending the finalisation of the study on the determination of cost based pricing for retail broadband and data services in Nigeria.

“In order to provide a level playing field for all operators in the industry, small operators and new entrants to acquire market share and operate profitably small operators and new entrants are hereby exempted for the price floor for data services,” it said.

“For the avoidance of doubt a small operator is one that has less than 7.5 percent market share and a new entrant is an operator that has operated less than three years in the market.

“All operators are to ensure that subscribers are not automatically migrated to pay-as-you-go platform.

“Also, note that effective date for the interim price floor is December 1, 2016.” the letter added.